If you’ll be in the Atlanta area on September 2 — the night before Dragon*Con — then I strongly urge you to attend the Second Annual Atlanta Skeptics Star Party. This is a charity event to raise money for the American Cancer SocietyLeukemia and Lymphoma Society, in memory and honor of our friend Jeff Medkeff, an astronomer who died of liver cancer two years ago. Jeff was a good man, naming asteroids after noted skeptics, and did a lot of work to promote critical thinking.

Last year’s event was fantastic: there was a full house of people listening to short talks by Pamela Gay and me, and then migrating outside to view the heavens. This year, the speakers include Fraser Cain (from the newly remodeled Universe Today), Pamela once again, and musician George Hrab (who made a typically over-the-top cool promo for it).

I won’t be there this year — months of travel for my TV show have made me long to be home for more than a week at a time — but I hope some BABloggees will be able to attend. And don’t forget: Surly Amy and I have teamed up to raise money for the event as well. It’s a great night, a fun time, and a way to help us all kick cancer’s butt.

I wish my company could attend these sort of events (we produce astronomy equipment). Unfortunately associating with skeptics would be a bad business move, because believe it or not the amateur astronomy community is heavily religious and under educated, and we would lose a lot of business.

I’ll most likely be at Dragon*Con but don’t have the extra funds for this event. You will be missed, Phil. The SkepTrack is a weekend of rational fun.

@ Patrick,
I know what you mean. A few scopes with babble verses printed on them have been spotted by me and my fellow astroheathens. I can’t recall any of those scopes being operated by younger astronomers (which is a hopeful sign for the future).